ChenSung| Under the Magnolia Trees

Chapter 4: Equity and Alliance

"Let bloodshed be bloodshed. We will not surrender," a Japanese soldier's cry rang through the battlefield as he coerced his fellow soldiers to fight.

The ground was filled with noise of bullets and mortars. A few men of the Korean Liberation Army (KLA) fought side by side with the Americans and other allied forces holding their front.

As the focus of the enemy is upfront a few of the group went to the back to attack specific points from the rear. Holding his rifle Jisung was tasked to take out one of the lieutenant guarding near the Japanese Company Headquarters.

A shot was made and the targeted man fell.
"Dō shita? (What happened?)" The words were barely out the soldier's lips still in shock at the unprecedented attack on his partner when another shot was made. No words were further said only gurgling sounds of blood.

Dawn turned to day and the few soldiers at the rear still withheld their positions advancing a little. They did not fire more shots so they won't give away their positions.

"Sir, we have no way out unless we overtake the ones at the front." One of the reconnaissance team reported to their company commander after assessing the situation.

"Did you see how many men are near the headquarters?" The first lieutenant asked in a whisper.

"Probably half a company sir."

"Wait for my signal." Jisung stood up but still a little crouched and went ahead.

Running, he threw the smoke grenade, his boot climbing up the hill.

A few of the group started to advance when they were held back by their companions waiting for the colored smoke to be seen.

"Wait for the signal." They whispered.

They can only stare at the back of their company commander anxiously.

Jisung panted over the hill and when he looked up he saw a young soldier saw him. He was so young almost as young as him. The war brought a lot of volunteers including those aging younger than eighteen. Pulling the trigger he shot the man dead on the spot. He could hear the resounding footsteps of his men following him as they attacked the enemy's company headquarters, the area thick with red smoke. When they were done and everything was dead silent they took the time to look at the men they just killed and his heart clenched. A few of them are fellow Korean civilian men forced to volunteer for the Japanese army since technically they are still under imperial Japan. Those images haunted him the most.

"Hah!" He woke up panting on his bed. Gathering his legs in between his arms, he rested his forehead against his knees.
War is coming and he's already sick of it. He became a young general because of his feats in the Korean Liberation Army during the second world war and yet this did not bring him joy at all. What he saw and heard had haunted him for the rest of his life.

His ears perked at the sound of the bedroom door being opened.
Without looking up he asked with his face still buried deeply in his folded arms,
"Why are you here?"
It sounded almost sternly but the voice remained calm.

"I heard you groaning in your sleep when I passed by from the kitchen. I was thirsty." Chenle spoke approaching the man.
Sitting down at the edge of the bed, he lifted his hand and was about to touch the taller but he hesitated and ended up withdrawing it.

"You can go back to sleep. We have a long journey tomorrow." The younger said weakly.

"Did you know that the first provisional government of Korea in hopes to stop its puppet government by Japan was established in Shanghai, my birthplace?" The man spoke eyeing his husband.
"It was in China too that the Korean Liberation Army was formed." He added.

"I know." Jisung spoke furrowing his brows at the memory.

"What I'm saying is my country and yours has long been intertwined in history. Now that the South and North are in conflict there's a probability that China will side with the North becoming your enemy this time around. I have a feeling you'll need me that's why I'm not going anywhere Jisung even if you'll drag me back to my place." He paused for a while before continuing,
"I did not say anything when you asked me if I like you because I'm not sure either. I don't want to lie. But it doesn't mean that I'll go back on my vows when I married you...

I intend to fulfill it all. This is a political marriage and I plan to be your partner in achieving great things. I'm ambitious Jisung and being an omega can't stop me from doing that. You're not the only one who has a say in this relationship. If I say that you can't let me go, it means that I don't want to hear you again saying that you'll set me free when the time comes. I know you believed me. You saw it all, you saw Taeyong forcing himself on me so I don't know why you're acting like this."

"I- I guess I thought... that I don't want you doing things in this marriage that's against you're will." Jisung removed himself from his knees and looked at Chenle and was caught off guard when the smaller laughed.

"You really think that my parents can force me in marrying you and living with you huh? I won't be here if I don't want to Jisung." The smaller shook his head snickering a little.
"I know that you're transferred to Busan. It really took you long enough to tell me. Do you think you can hide it from me? I'm resuming duty too next week. I guess I'm your new intelligence officer... general?" Chenle smiled saluting his husband.

The taller's jaw dropped at what he heard.

"I made sure to transfer myself too. Remember that you're not the only one who has the power Jisung. If war will break out we'll be fighting side by side." The older moved to the side to offer his hand for a handshake.
"Oh, before I forget. For safety and professionalism purposes I will not announce our marriage but I won't remove my ring again. I'll just tape something over it or something. I want to remind you that this political marriage we have, I'm on it too. I'm wearing a ring not for other people to see but for you and maybe for me too."
He extended his arm further for the younger to take.

"Yeah. The intelligence officer's quarter is not close to mine anyway. So we shouldn't be worried about interacting much you know. Plus, I've always worn my ring." The taller smirked taking something underneath his clothes through the neck of his shirt and revealed a necklace carrying the wedding ring as a pendant.

"Whatever... just take my hand, I'm tired." The smaller ordered, rolling his eyes.

Jisung finally made a small smile taking his wife's hand in his, shaking it,
"I'll make sure that whatever decision we need to take in this marriage I'll include your say in it. You're as much a part of it as I do."

"Good. You're my general in the office but since we're still at home I'm the boss." The older grinned.
"You know that the wife's always right, right? Plus I'm older." He went on to explain this animatedly that made the younger laugh.

"Fine... Fine... Whatever.
Now go back upstairs. We have a long journey in the morning." The taller shook his head and realized he's got a long way to the older's heart.

"Alright. See you Ji."
Chenle smiled when he used the nickname, of course he remembered about that. Taking a deep breath he exited Jisung's room and went upstairs.